Tethered ball tic tac toe

ABSTRACT

A game of skill which in one form simulates tic-tac-toe. The game includes a self-supporting frame for removably lodging a plurality of indicia-bearing playing cubes above a playing surface. A tethered striker ball is mounted above the playing surface and is adjustable in height with respect thereto for dislodging the playing cubes from the frame by impact-transfer between the striker ball and the playing cubes. Players, in turn, use the tethered ball to dislodge the playing cubes which are then reinserted into the frame, the object being the formation of a row or pattern of player-chosen indicia.

United States Patent 191 Reiner Nov. 6, 1973 TETHERED BALL TIC TAC TOE [76] Inventor: Lawrence L. Reiner, 1 Hickory Ln.,

Woodbury, NY.

[22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 227,863

[52] US. Cl. 273/101, 273/95 A, 273/130 B [51] Int. Cl A63b 7/02 [58] Field of Search 273/95 R, 95 A, 97 R,

27'3/98, 101, 102 R, 105 R, 130 A, 130 AB,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,371,831 3/1921 Workman 273/40 2,634,977 4/1953 Hunter 273/40 3,477,718 11/1969 Loncar 273/40 3,554,550 1/1971 Schram 273/102 R 3,649,018 3/1972 Beam 273/95 A 4/1970 Taillie 273/l30 B 2/1953 Smalley 273/130 B Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham- Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-M0rt0n Amster et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A game of skill which in oneform simulates tic-tac-toe. The game includes a self-supporting frame for removably lodging a plurality of indicia-bearing playing cubes above a playing surface. A tethered striker ball is mounted above the playing surface and is adjustable in height with respect thereto for dislodging the playing cubes from the frame by impact-transfer between the striker ball and the playing cubes. Players, in turn, use the tethered ball to dislodge the playing cubes which are then reinserted into the frame, the object being the formation of a row or pattern of player-chosen indicia.

20 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED 6 \975 TETHERED BALL TIC TAC TOE The present invention relates generally to games of skill, and in particular to a tethered ball game for the play of variations of games, such as tic-tac-toe.

Various games of skill have been available for play by both children and adults in which indicia are selected and arranged in a pattern according to the rules of the game. In addition to various word games of this nature wherein the indicia are letters of the alphabet, numerical and alphabetical indicia may be selected and arranged to play the well known game of bingo, Xs and O.s may be selected to play tic-tac-toe or completely arbitrary symbols may be used in a game of skill requiring the formation of chains or patterns of these symbols.

other tethered ball game is a variation of the game of bowling'in which the bowling pins are arranged on a base and a tethered striker ball is swung so as to topple the pins with the scoring proceeding much as in the reg ulation game of bowling.

' While the foregoing games have substantial play value and are interesting and intriguing both to children and adults, further excitement and interest could be generated in numerous additional games by utilizing a player control which functions to restrict the choices available to the player during a segment of play of the game. The player could manipulate a tethered ball as an aid in selecting a location for the placement ofan indicium. As this new dimension or variable is added to the players skill or control, further variations and modifications of games utilizing a ball in the play thereof or in games not traditionally utilizing a ball, tethered or otherwise, can be created-which will have enhanced play value and substantial consumer interest.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a game of skill which supplies a dimension of skill and control to the player intermediate in the games selection process thereby facilitating the creation of various tethered ball games of enchanced play value.

I have found that a variety of tethered ball games can be created wherein the locational choices available to a player are restricted during the play of the game. For example, if a game involves arrangement of various indicia in a certain order or pattern, such as tic-tac-toe, initial restriction of the possible locations for the X or O indicia could be made dependent upon the players skill, with the location of the X or O indiciadetermined as a result of the use of the apparatus of the present invention.

Accordingly, it is a more particular object of th present invention-to provide games of skill in which a tethered impact-transfer deviceis used to dislodge an indicia-bearing polyhedron from a compartmented frame, as a basis for the play of such games. Advantageously, the present invention may be used to play a wide variety of games including for example, but without limitation, versions of tic-tac-toe, bingo, word games and the like.

Broadly, the apparatus of the present invention may include an open-sided frame mounted in a vertically extenting attitude. A plurality of polyhedra are provided, each having an indicium on at least one face. The polyhedra are constructed and arranged relative to each other and the frame to be supportable within the frame and are disposed therein. A striker ball ismounted for swinging movement relative to the frame and selected polyhedra may be dislodged to fall from the frame upon being struck by the striker ball.

In accordance with a specific embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is adapted for the play of tic-tac-toe. In its usual form, the game of tic-tac-toe involves the use of three columns of three rows in each column. The players, in turn, mentally decide where to place their preselected X or O indicia in an as yet unoccupied row and column. The desired indicium is placed in the desired space in an attempt to form a line of three like indicia. In the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, an open-sided frame of three rows of three columns of cube-shaped compartments (nine compartments in all) is supported with the open sides generally vertical. Nine cubes, with X indicia on two opposite faces, 0 indicia on two further opposite faces and two opposite faces without any indicia, are lodged within the nine compartments with their blank faces visible. A striker ball is swingably tethered and fixed relative to the frame. The length of the tether is adjustable to permit the striker ball to be swung and reach any one of the nine cubes supported by the frame and dislodge them by impact-transfer.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance withthe present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative form of the present invention specifically designed for the play of tic-tac-toe, with the full lines showing the invention with one polyhedron dislodged from the frame and the striker ball at a rest position and the dotted lines showing a position of play of the striker ball about to dislodge another polyhedron;

FIG. 2 isa plan view of the game of the present invention, with parts broken away and shown in section, with the full lines showing the apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 1 with the striker ball shown in a position of play about to dislodge a polyhedron and the dotted lines showing a position of the striker ball when launched toward the frame to dislodge a polyhedron from an alternate direction; and, t

. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a playing cube of the present invention showing pairs of indicia on opposite faces thereof for use in playing tic-tac-toe.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention, there is provided a game of skill, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a game board 12 which has a substantially square, flat field 14, a selfsupporting compartmented frame 16 diagonally fixed above the field, a plurality of substantially-alike indiciabearing playing cubes C removably lodged within and supported by the frame 16 and a cube dislodging mechanism l8 likewise fixed with respect to the frame. In

this illustrative form of the invention, each of the substantially identical playing cubes C has a set of opposite faces 22, 24 each of which bears a particular indicium, a second set of opposite faces 26, 28 each of which bears a different indicium, with the remaining set of p posite faces 30, 32 being blank for use in play of the game as will be explained hereinafter. I

The game board 12, which may be made of a lightweight durable material such as plastic, includes an upstanding basewall 34 which extends about and supports the field l4, joining the field at its perimeter, and which is adapted to rest on a table top T or the like. A truncated square pyramid support platform 36 is centrally fixed upon the field l4 and is turned 45 with respect to a symmetrical alignment therewith. The frame 16 is composed of four rectangular frame pieces 17 joined at their shorter edges so as to form the frame, the perimeter of which is square in cross-section, open-sided and which has a depth equal to the length ofa side ofa playing cube C. The frame 16 has nine openings 38 orthogonally arranged in three rows of three columns in each row. The frame 16 is orthogonal to the field l4 and removably aligned along a diagonal thereof being located above the playing field atop a supporting column 40 which is removably inserted in the platform 36. Each of the openings 38 has a horizontal and vertical dimension equal to the length of a side of one of the playing cubes C. Consequently, when the playing cubes are supported within the openings 38, only two opposite faces of the cubes are visible from opposite sides of the frame 16 designated as playing stations 42, 44 (FIG. 2).

A striker ball 46 is tethered by fixed attachment to a cord 48 which in turn is held by an arm 50. The maximum dimensions of the striker ball 46 is smaller than that of any of the faces of the playing cubes C in order to ensure substantial contact with only one playing cube C at a time, during play of the game as described hereinafter. The arm 50 is mounted atop a support pole 52 which, in turn, is removably inserted into a truncated square pyramid support platform 54. The platform 54 is integrally formed on the game board 12 at a corner of the basewall 34 equidistant from the playing stations 42, 44. The cord 48 passes successively through two openings 56, 58 (FIG. 2) in the arm 50 and is snugly received thereby thus positioning the striker ball 46 at a predetermined distance below the arm 50 and yet permitting adjustment in height with respect thereto by adjustment of the cord in the directions indicated by the arrows R (FIG. 1).

In a typical use, the apparatus described can be employed to play a variation of the game of tic-tac-toe. In one preferred form of the apparatus of the present invention, each of the substantially alike playing cubes C has X indicia on each of its opposite faces 22, 24, O indicia on each of two other opposite faces 26, 28, and no indicia on the remaining two opposite faces 30, 32. The playing cubes C are supported by the openings 38 with the blank faces 30, 32 exposed at the playing stations 42, 44 to players positioned adjacent these statrons.

Each player, in turn, adjusts the height of the striker ball 46 with respect to the arm 50 by moving the cord 48 through the openings 56, 58 until a desired level for the striker ball is attained. The striker ball 46 is then moved away from the frame 16 while simultaneously being moved away from the pole 52. The cord 48 is maintained taut in order to insure a degree of predictability in the path of the striker ball 46 which is then propelled toward the frame 16 in an arc designated by the dotted line 60 in the direction of the arrows S.

The various playing cubes C contained within the matrix of openings 38 may be aimed for, depending upon the skill of the player, by adjusting the length of the cord 48 with respect to the arm 50. The size of the arc 60 at the desired height is determined by the length of the cord 48 depending from the opening 56 of the arm 50 and the magnitude of the force with which the striker ball 46 is propelled toward the frame 16.

When the striker ball 46, which is resilient with respect to the playing cubes C, strikes one of the playing cubes, there is a transfer of impact to the playing cube which is thereby dislodged from the opening 38 within the frame 16 with the playing cube falling to the playing field 14. The player who has dislodged the cube selects one of the indicia (X or O) and replaces the playing cube C in the opening 38 from whence it came with the chosen indicia visible at both of the playing stations 42, 44. The first player to complete a row (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) of three X"s or three Os is declared the winner. Naturally, it is possible to dislodge a playing cube C from the frame 16 either by propelling the striker ball 46 toward the frame from playing station 42 through arc 60 or toward playing station 44 through are 62 (FIG. 2).

Of course, a player may miscalculate the size or height of the are 60 or 62 and/or the force necessary to dislodge the playing cube C aimed for. If no playing cube C is dislodged, the player loses a turn. If, on the other hand, a playing cube (3 is dislodged that has an X or an 0 showing, that player has the option of relodging that playing cube with the indicia of his choice showing at the playing stations 42, 44.

In another illustrative example of the use of the apparatus of the present invention, the playing cubes C may be replaced with polyhedra of other shapes, e.g., dodechedra, with the frame 16 adapted to removably lodge these polyhedra. In any of the variations of the apparatus of the present invention, the indicia carried on the faces of the polyhedra need not be identical on opposite faces. Such a non-opposed arrangement of indicia results in a particular pattern being formed at one playing station while a different pattern is formed at the other playing station by the replaced polyhedra, thus adding an additional element of uncertainty and excitement to the play of the game. In still another example of the use of the apparatus of the presentinvention, the indicia carried by the polyhedra might be alphabetical indicia and the number of openings 38 increased with the object of the game being to form words.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention may be used in other specific forms or for other games without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. For example, the pesently illustrated container with three rows of three compartments might be increased to five rows of five compartments with the polyhedra carrying a combination of both numerical and alphabetical indicia on the faces thereof with the apparatus being used for the play of a variation of bingo with corresponding bingo cards being supplied. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. A game of skill comprising an open sided frame, means for mounting said frame in a vertically extending attitude, a plurality of polyhedra each having an indicium on at least one face thereof, said polyhedra being constructed and arranged relative to each other and to said frame to be supported, within said frame and disposed therein, a striker ball and mjeansmounting said striker ball for swinging movement relative to said frame whereby selected polyhedra may be dislodged to fall from said frame upon being struck by said striker ball.

2. A game of skill according to claim 1 wherein the maximum dimension of the striker ball is smaller than that of any of the faces of any of said polyhedra.

3. A game of skill comprising an open-sided frame, means for mounting said frame in a verticallyextending attitude, a plurality of polyhedra each having an indicium on at least one face thereof, said polyhedra being constructed and arranged relative to each other and to said frame to be supportable within said frame and disposed therein, a striker ball and means mounting said striker ball for swinging movement relative to said frame whereby selected polyhedra may be dislodged to fall from said frame upon being struck by said striker ball, wherein said frame has a plurality of compartments each of which is sized to receive one of said polyhedra.

4. A game of skill according to claim 3 wherein said polyhedra each have indicia on at least two faces thereof.

5. A game of skill according to claim 4 wherein said polyhedra are regular polyhedra having at least six faces and said indicia appear on opposite faces thereof.

6. A game of skill according to claim 5 wherein said indicia on said opposite faces are like indicia.

7. A game of skill according to claim 6 wherein said frame is constructed to support said polyhedra in a manner to reveal two of said opposite faces and conceal the remainder of said faces.

8. A game of skill according to claim 7 wherein said polyhedra are cubes.

9. A game of skill according to claim 7 wherein said striker ball mounting means may be disposed relative to said frame in a manner to permit said polyhedra to be dislodged by being struck from either side of said frame.

10. A game of skill according to claim 8 wherein said indicia are alphabetical indicia.

11. A game of skill according to claim 8 wherein indicia on a set of opposite faces of said cubes are both Xs, indicia on another set of opposite faces of said cubes are both Os and said frame includes three columns of three rows in each column arranged orthogonally with respect to each other. v

12. A game of skill comprising an upstanding open sided container, having compartments, a plurality of polyhedra each having an indicium on at least one face thereof, said compartments each being constructed and arranged to lodge a polyhedron in a manner to selectively reveal and conceal said indicium, said compartments being arranged within said container in a manner to form a station of play on either side of said container and a tethered striker balland means mounting said striker ball for swinging movement relative to said container whereby selected polyhedra may be dislodged from either station of play to fall from said compartments upon being struck by said striker ball.

13. A game of skill according to claim 12 wherein said polyhedra are cubes and bear alphabetical indicia on two sets of opposite faces thereof.

14. A game of skill according to claim 12 wherein said polyhedra are cubes wherein Xs appear on two faces thereof, Os appear on .two other faces thereof, said compartments being orthogonally arranged with respect to each other and including three columns of three rows in each column.

15. A game of skill according to claim 12 wherein said polyhedra are cubes and wherein both alphabetical and numerical indicia appear on each of four faces thereof.

16. A game of'skill comprising a generally upstanding frame having compartments, a plurality of polyhedra each having an indicium on at least one face thereof and sized to be supported within one of said compartments and normally supported therein with said indicium hidden from view, a striker ball and means for tethering said striker ball relative to said frame whereby the polyhedra may be dislodged to fall from their respective compartments upon being struck by said striker ball, said polyhedra being sized to be resupported within said individual compartments with said indicium exposed to view.

17. A game of skill according to claim 16 including means for varying the height of said striker ball with respect to said compartments. 7

18. A game of skill comprising a generally upstanding open-sided container having compartments, a plurality of indicium-bearing means sized to be supported by said compartments and normally supported therein in a manner that said indicia are concealed from view, said compartments being arranged within said container to form a station of play on either side of said container, a tethered striker ball and means mounting said striker ball for swinging movement relative to said container whereby selected indicium-bearing means may be individually dislodged from either station of play to fall from said compartments upon being struck by said striker ball, said indicium-bearing means being constructed and arranged to be re-supported by said compartments in a manner to reveal said indicia.

19. A game of skill comprising an open-sided frame, means for mounting said frame in a vertically extending attitude, a plurality of polyhedra each having an indicium on at least one face thereof, said polyhedra being constructed and arranged to be supportable within said frame and disposed therein out of contact with one another, a striker ball and means mounting-said striker ball for swinging movement relative to said frame whereby selectedpolyhedra may be individually dislodged to fall from said frame upon being struck by said striker ball.

20. A game of skill according to claim 19, the maximum dimension of said striker ball being smaller than the maximum dimension ofa face of any of said polyhedra. 

1. A game of skill comprising an open sided frame, means for mounting said frame in a vertically extending attitude, a plurality of polyhedra each having an indicium on at least one face thereof, said polyhedra being constructed and arranged relative to each other and to said frame to be supported within said frame and disposed therein, a striker ball and means mounting said striker ball for swinging movement relative to said frame whereby selected polyhedra may be dislodged to fall from said frame upon being struck by said striker ball.
 2. A game of skill according to claim 1 wherein the maximum dimension of the striker ball is smaller than that of any of the faces of any of said polyhedra.
 3. A game of skill comprising an open-sided frame, means for mounting said frame in a vertically-extending attitude, a plurality of polyhedra each having an indicium on at least one face thereof, said polyhedra being constructed and arranged relative to each other and to said frame to be supportable within said frame and disposed therein, a striker ball and means mounting said striker ball for swinging movement relative to said frame whereby selected polyhedra may be dislodged to fall from said frame upon being struck by said striker ball, wherein said frame has a plurality of compartments each of which is sized to receive one of said polyhedra.
 4. A game of skill according to claim 3 wherein said polyhedra each have indicia on at least two faces thereof.
 5. A game of skill according to claim 4 wherein said polyhedra are regular polyhedra having at least six faces and said indicia appear on opposite faces thereof.
 6. A game of skill according to claim 5 wherein said indicia on said opposite faces are like indicia.
 7. A game of skill according to claim 6 wherein said frame is constructed to support said polyhedra in a manner to reveal two of said opposite faces and conceal the remainder of said faces.
 8. A game of skill according to claim 7 wherein said polyhedra are cubes.
 9. A game of skill according to claim 7 wherein said striker ball mounting means may be disposed relative to said frame in a manner to permit said polyhedra to be dislodged by being struck from either side of said frame.
 10. A game of skill according to claim 8 wherein said indicia are alphabetical indicia.
 11. A game of skill according to claim 8 wherein indicia on a set of opposite faces of said cubes are both X''s, indicia on another set of opposite faces of said cubes are both O''s and said frame includes three columns of three rows in each column arranged orthogonally with respect to each other.
 12. A game of skill comprising an upstanding open sided container, having compartments, a plurality of polyhedra each having an indicium on at least one face thereof, said compartments each being constructed and arranged to lodge a polyhedron in a manner to selectively reveal and conceal said indicium, said compartments being arranged within said container in a manner to form a station of play on either side of said container and a tethered striker ball and means mounting said striker ball for swinging movement relative to said container whereby selected polyhedra may be dislodged from either station of play to fall from said compartments upon being struck by said striker ball.
 13. A game of skill according to claim 12 wherein said polyhedra are cubes and bear alphabetical indicia on two sets of opposite faces thereof.
 14. A game of skill according to claim 12 wherein said polyhedra are cubes wherein X''s appear on two faces thereof, O''s appear on two other faces thereof, said compartments being orthogonally arranged with respect to each other and including three columns of three rows in each column.
 15. A game of skill according to claim 12 wherein said polyhedra are cubes and wherein both alphabetical and numerical indicia appear on each of four faces thereof.
 16. A game of skill comprising a generally upstanding frame having compartments, a plurality of polyhedra each having an indicium on at least one face thereof and sized to be supported within one of said compartments and normally supported therein with said indicium hidden from view, a striker ball and means for tethering said striker ball relative to said frame whereby the polyhedra may be dislodged to fall from their respective compartments upon being struck by said sTriker ball, said polyhedra being sized to be resupported within said individual compartments with said indicium exposed to view.
 17. A game of skill according to claim 16 including means for varying the height of said striker ball with respect to said compartments.
 18. A game of skill comprising a generally upstanding open-sided container having compartments, a plurality of indicium-bearing means sized to be supported by said compartments and normally supported therein in a manner that said indicia are concealed from view, said compartments being arranged within said container to form a station of play on either side of said container, a tethered striker ball and means mounting said striker ball for swinging movement relative to said container whereby selected indicium-bearing means may be individually dislodged from either station of play to fall from said compartments upon being struck by said striker ball, said indicium-bearing means being constructed and arranged to be re-supported by said compartments in a manner to reveal said indicia.
 19. A game of skill comprising an open-sided frame, means for mounting said frame in a vertically extending attitude, a plurality of polyhedra each having an indicium on at least one face thereof, said polyhedra being constructed and arranged to be supportable within said frame and disposed therein out of contact with one another, a striker ball and means mounting said striker ball for swinging movement relative to said frame whereby selected polyhedra may be individually dislodged to fall from said frame upon being struck by said striker ball.
 20. A game of skill according to claim 19, the maximum dimension of said striker ball being smaller than the maximum dimension of a face of any of said polyhedra. 